Today DD and I got in a "paint rub" accident. I've NEVER in my life been in an accident so I was naturally a bit shaken and didn't know what to do. So I called the cops for an accident report. Let me set up the scenario for you:

Me and DD heading Northbound on an access road, the street to the left of me is called Adams, and it's also a one way. For some reason I glance to my left(mind you I'm already driving north it's a green light for me) and I see this little convertible, and it totally hits the back end of my Uplander. We pulled over and I called the PD. She comes over(the sweetest little old lady!) and says sorry she didn't notice it was a one way she wanted to jump on the free way and just didn't see it was a one way. I explain to her ok but I would like an accident report just to be safe, she than says ok, but you barley have any damage my head lights smashed in.

ANYWAY ok so here's where I'm confused by Phx PD..A highway patrol came first and said "I see some paint marks but that's all I see" I say "ok but I'd like a report please" he talks to the little old lady she admits it's her fault going down the one way yada yada yada. HP comes to me asks me what happend and he shows me this drawing of the lanes and asks where she came from yada yada I tell him what she said, and he says " this isn't my area, I'll call phx PD" and takes off.

Phx PD comes, say's it isn't bad, and next time just exchange info and handle it ourselves basically, and that he will exchange insurance information for us. **HERE IS THE WEIRD PART** He hands us I think an accident report all filled out with our insurance information, and says let me guess, You(points at me) hit her..I say "No" he Say's ok "you(little old lady) hit her(me) coming off the ramp" she said "no" I said "She was coming down the one way street, and when she realized it was a one way she tried to sweep over to jump on the freeway" The old lady say's "yes I didn't know yada yada" Officer says If we have the same story the insurance will go smoothly if we don't than it'll be messy, but that b/c she has admitted it here and she doesn't seem like the type that would lie he doesn't think it'll be bad. and he directs us on calling each others insurance and good luck... ***SHE GOT NO KIND OF TICKET WHAT SO EVER*** I'm so puzzled, I live on a one way street and I see cops sitting and waiting for people to turn down it just to issue a ticket, and here not only did someone go down a one way she admitted to causing an accident...and NOTHING..I'm so puzzled. I'm thankful that it wasn't a bad accident and no one was hurt, Had it been a BUSY day like on a weekday (it's always packed with people jumping off and on the free way, and crowded from people getting off of work) the situation would have been worse we could have gotten hit on all sides, so I'm very blessed and thankful that it was so minor.

I'm posting this because 1) I want to and (2) I'm so puzzled as to why no ticket was issued! ****RANT OVER**** Thanks for reading =)

I know It just happened a few hrs ago so I'm still scratching my head about it.

Quoting 3gr8tKids:

wow.. early Christmas present for her.

I do find that odd too.

by Anonymous 2

October 7, 2012 at 1:34 AM

I think it's up to the discretion of the officer whether to issue a ticket for going the wrong way on a one way street & for minor accidents. My BIL got caught going the wrong way on a one way street & only got a police escort off the street & verbal warning. When my car was hit, no ticket was issued, just an accident report written with the other party's insurance info. In my case, there was a witness. My car had been legally parked in my parking space. A men driving a work truck hit my car, not once, but twice. A woman saw the accident through a window & ran out to stop him & make him come tell me about it. I called the cops, but since I had not seen the accident, they mainly talked to the driver of the truck & the woman who witnessed it. It was a minor accident, very little damage, basically just some paint & two small dents.

Does her not getting a ticket affect the insurance at all? If not, I'm confused as to why you would want a little old lady who made a mistake and admitted fault to get a ticket.

by Anonymous 1 - Original Poster

October 7, 2012 at 1:48 AM

B/c he already had assumed it was my fault, I'm gonna throw this out there. I really think had it been the other way around, and although I have Italian in me I have more Mexican, I would have def. gotten two tickets, one for the one way and second for the accident. IDK, maybe I'm reading to far into it .

by Anonymous 1 - Original Poster

October 7, 2012 at 1:51 AM

Quoting Anonymous:

Does her not getting a ticket affect the insurance at all? If not, I'm confused as to why you would want a little old lady who made a mistake and admitted fault to get a ticket.

because, it's the law. I'm just confused as to how the system works. Do they pick and choose when something is considered ticket worthy? I have no idea if it will or will not, I've never been in an accident of any sort

It is possible you are reading too far into it. IDK how things work out there. They aren't the same here in FL. Older people have caused accidents and killed people, so they may take it more seriously. I have not been in an accident of your type before or in PHX, so...?